Population
Need for assistance
About this topic
Need for assistance measures people who report needing help with self-care, body movement, or communication because of a disability, a long-term health condition, or older age. It is a high-needs indicator rather than a general measure of disability.
This topic is useful for planning accessible facilities, care services, respite, and support for carers. The measure is based on self-report in the Census, so it should be interpreted with care and read alongside unpaid care and other disability-related indicators.
Interpretation notes
- The measure is self-reported and records need for help with core activities, so it is not a complete measure of disability prevalence.
- It applies to all persons and is strongest as an indicator of higher support need when read with unpaid care and ageing data.
Key insight
In 2021, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Port Macquarie-Hastings (A), accounting for 17.5% (1,522 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 440 people and 2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Port Macquarie-Hastings (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Port Macquarie-Hastings (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Macquarie-Hastings (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
79
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
79
2.1%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
766
2021 rate
7.7%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
766
7.7%
+2.8pp
15-19
2021 count
262
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
262
5.3%
+1.4pp
20-24
2021 count
159
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
159
4.1%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
269
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
269
3.5%
+0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
283
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
283
3.3%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
458
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
458
4.4%
-0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
768
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
768
6.4%
+0.3pp
65-74
2021 count
1,132
2021 rate
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,132
8.6%
+0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
1,522
2021 rate
17.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
1,522
17.5%
+2.0pp
85+
2021 count
1,497
2021 rate
43.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,497
43.8%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+15
+0.4pp
5-14
+314
+2.8pp
15-19
+91
+1.4pp
20-24
+54
+0.7pp
25-34
+69
+0.5pp
35-44
+5
-0.1pp
45-54
-8
-0.2pp
55-64
+85
+0.3pp
65-74
+140
+0.2pp
75-84
+440
+2.0pp
85+
+213
+0.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Port Macquarie-Hastings (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 79 | 2.1% | 1.6% | 64 | 1.7% | 1.3% | +15 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 766 | 7.7% | 5.2% | 452 | 4.9% | 3.8% | +314 | +2.8pp |
| 15-19 | 262 | 5.3% | 4.2% | 171 | 3.9% | 3.2% | +91 | +1.4pp |
| 20-24 | 159 | 4.1% | 3.4% | 105 | 3.4% | 2.6% | +54 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 269 | 3.5% | 2.6% | 200 | 3.0% | 2.4% | +69 | +0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 283 | 3.3% | 2.8% | 278 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +5 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 458 | 4.4% | 4.2% | 466 | 4.6% | 4.4% | -8 | -0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 768 | 6.4% | 6.0% | 683 | 6.1% | 6.2% | +85 | +0.3pp |
| 65-74 | 1,132 | 8.6% | 9.1% | 992 | 8.4% | 8.7% | +140 | +0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 1,522 | 17.5% | 18.9% | 1,082 | 15.5% | 17.8% | +440 | +2.0pp |
| 85+ | 1,497 | 43.8% | 46.5% | 1,284 | 43.1% | 43.8% | +213 | +0.7pp |
| Total | 7,187 | 8.3% | 6.8% | 5,797 | 7.4% | 6.3% | +1,390 | +0.9pp |